Sealing device for wells



Aug. l1, 1925. 1,549,168

E. E. TowNsEND SEALING DEVICE FOR WELLS -Filed Feb'. 1a, 1924 20 M/Mwf A TTORNE YS.

- Patented Aug. l1, 1925.

UNITED STATES ELVIN E. TOWNSEND, OF WATSONVIIZLE, CALIFORNIA.

SEALING DEVICE son WELLS.

Application led February 18, 1924. Serial No. 693,531.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FmvIN E. TowNsnNn,

f a 'citizen of the United States, residing at Watsonville. county of' Santa Cruz, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sealing Devices for l/Vells, of which the following is a specification. .n

This invention relates to well drilling equipment and particularly pertains to an improved sealing or plugging apparatus for wells.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for use in plugging a well or for lowering and elevating casings and the like without permitting the escape of fluid from the well.

In carrying out this object I provide a pair of plugging elements capable of expansion whereby they may be lowered into a well and expanded to plug the same. These plugging devices may be expanded independently and are mounted on telescoping ipes whereby they may be manipulated to lower and elevate casings and the like without permitting the escape of fluid from the well. The plugging elements are also adapted to be lused singly to plug a well at any desired point therein.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the` following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a well and an apparatus embodying the preferred form ofmy invention. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of one of the plugs of the apparatus. f

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of one of the control valves. A y

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates a well casing, within which I have shown my improved apparatus. This apparatus comprises an upper plug or seal 11 and a lower plug or seal 12. VThese members are each capable of expansion and contraction and may be operated independently of each other.

The plugs 11 and 12 each comprise a hollow core 14. Surrounding this core 14 is a flexible sleeve 16 preferably formed of rub ber, which is secured at its ends to the bushing by means of a central sleeve 17 and pairs of clamping collars 18. These pairs of clamping collars are located at the ends of the plug as shown.

The upper end of the core 14 is formed with an annular collar 19. The other end 1s threaded to receiveay clamping nut 20. When the various parts are assembled onv the core 14 the nut 2O is applied to clamp the parts in position. At each of the ends of the plugs and exteriorly of the flexible sleeve I mount a collapsible conical collar 21 which is formed of a plurality of overlapping segmental members 22. These members are pivotally supported by the clamping collars 18. The segmental members 22 are each fitted with flat springs 23 which constantly tend to maintain the collar in collapsed position.

The outer ends of the segmental members are roughened so that when the plugs are expanded to engage the inner surface of a casing or well the collapsible collars \will grip the casing and prevent dislodgment of the plugs. The collars also serve to protect the ends of the flexible sleeves and to prevent distortion thereof. K,

The' upper end of the core 14 of the up,- per plug 1l is connected with the lower end of an outer delivery pipe 15. The upper end of this pipe is fitted with a valve 24. This valve comprises a body having a tapered seat with which a tapered and grooved valve member 25 cooperates. This valve member is threaded into place and may be operated by a' stem 26 extending into the head 27 of the valve. The inner end of this stem is :fitted with a socket for engaging a square shank on the end of the valve mem- The head 27 of the valve is detachably connected to the \valve body and to -a pipe 28 by which it is placed in communication with a source of fluid under pressure. By removing the head 27 the valve may belowered into the well casing.

Telescoping within the pipe 15 is a second delivery pipe 29. The lower end of this pipe connects with the core 14 of the lower p ug.

It is seen that the upper end of the valve 24 and the lower end of the bushing 14 in the upper plug 11 are fitted with packing glands. This prevents leakage through the` upper plug when the lower plug is contracted.

The upper end of the second delivery pipe 29 is fitted witha valve 30. This valve is of he same construction as the one indicate at 24, with the exception that the Avalve member is threaded directly in the pipe 29 and that the valve body is formed with an exteriorly threadedshank 31 by which it is connected to the pipe 29. 'Ihis permits the removal of the valve body wlthout disturbing the valve member and also permits the outer pipe and the plug .thereon to be drawn over the end of the pipe 29 and entirely separated therefrom so that The upper plug is then expanded by admitting Huid pressure thereto through the valve 24 and the pipe 15. l The lower plugmay then be contracted by exhausting the iluid therefrom. The upper plug is then lowered thelength of its pipe 15 to lower the casing a second step. When this has been done the lower plug is expanded and the upper plug contracted and elevated`to point adjacent the top ofthe well and then expanded to seal and hold the casing' while the lower plug is 4contracted and elevated for a second operatlOn. Y A ca'singmay be elevated by just reversing the operation just described. f

Itis believed understood that the lowering and raising of the plugs may be accomplished by the use of a derrick as in ordinary practice.

To place the plugs in a well or remove them-without unsealing the latter I may employ the ap aratus described and claimed in my copen ing application entitled Well.

a drilling equipment, iled Feb. 18, 1924, Se-

rial No. 693,532.

It is obvious that the plu s may be used singllylto plug a well at any esired point.

'le I have shown the preferred formof my invention, itis understood that various changes in, its construction may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, lwhat I claim and desire to secure. by Letters Patent is:

1. A plug for wells comprising a central hollow core adapted to be mounted at the end of a pipe, an-expansible member surrounding said core and secured at its ends thereto, whereby to provide a compartment between said member and the core, said member being capable of expansion upon the admission of fluid pressureto said compartment, and oppositely disposed collapsible conical collars disposed at each end of aid core exteriorly of said expansible mem- 2. A plug for wells comprising a hollow core membell adapted to be connected with a pipe whereby it maybe lowered into a well, an expansibe sleeve surrounding said core and connected at its ends thereto whereby a chamber will be formed between said core and said sleeve, said core having passageways formed therethrough to provide communication between said compartment and the interior of said core whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted to said compart-l ment to expand said sleeve, and oppositely dlsposed collapsible conical collars mounted at the ends of said core exteriorly of said sleeve, said collars being adapted to be expanded in" unison with said sleeve, and spring means normally tending to maintain said collars in a collapsible position.

3. In a device of the character described comprising a pair of plugging members arranged in alignment, each of said members comprising a hollow core, aflexible sleeve surrounding said core and fixed at its ends thereto, whereby to provide a compartment between said sleeve and said core, a pipe connected at its lower end to the core of the uppermost plugging member, a second pipe telescoped through the first-mentioned pipe and connected at its lower end to the-lowermost .plugging member, said pipes being adapted to deliver Huid pressure to compartments of the respective plugging members to expand the flexible sleeves thereof whereby they maybe independently expanded and contracted. v

4. A device of the character described pable of expansion upon t e admittance of Huid pressure thereto, pipes for delivering i fluid pressure` to said plugging members, said plugging members being capable of expans1on independent of each other, and said pipes being telescoped whereby said plugging members .may be arran ed in alignment and moved independentl o each other. l

ELVIN TOWNSEND. 

